Display device with touch sensor

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a display panel and a touch sensor which is disposed on the display panel. The display panel includes a display unit including a pixel, a driving circuit unit disposed outside the display unit, and a first static electricity blocking layer disposed on the driving circuit unit. The touch sensor includes sensing electrodes disposed on the display unit and a second static electricity blocking layer disposed overlapping the first static electricity blocking layer outside of the sensing electrodes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2015-0050302, filed on Apr. 9, 2015, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Field

Exemplary embodiments relate to a display device with a touch sensor.

Discussion of the Background

A display device may include a touch sensor to input information from atouch from a user's finger, a pen, or the like. Among the types of touchsensors, a capacitive type may sense a position of the touch from achange in capacitance between two electrodes spaced apart from eachother in response to a touch.

To make a display device flexible, the display device may be made thin.For this purpose, the touch sensor is embedded in the display device. Anon-cell type touch sensor does not include an extra substrate and asensing electrode may be directly disposed on any one component of thedisplay device.

Meanwhile, an edge of the display device may be vulnerable to staticelectricity. The edge of the display device generally includes variouskinds of driving circuits including thin film transistors and wiring.Therefore, when the display device is applied with strong staticelectricity from the outside, the driving circuits and the wiring may bedamaged due to the static electricity, which leads to an operationdefect of the display device.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the background of the inventive concept,and, therefore, it may contain information that does not form the priorart that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skillin the art.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments provide a display device which may reduce orsuppress damage to driving circuits and wiring due to static electricityfrom the outside by including a touch sensor in a display device with anon-cell type touch sensor.

Additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed description whichfollows, and, in part, will be apparent from the disclosure, or may belearned by practice of the inventive concept.

Exemplary embodiments provide a display device including a display paneland a touch sensor disposed on the display panel. The display panelincludes a display unit including a pixel, a driving circuit unitdisposed outside the display unit, and a first static electricityblocking layer disposed on the driving circuit unit. The touch sensormay include sensing electrodes disposed on the display unit and a secondstatic electricity blocking layer disposed overlapping the first staticelectricity blocking layer at the outside of the sensing electrodes.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the inventive concept, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concept, and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the inventive concept.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display deviceillustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an organic light emittingdiode display.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a first sensing electrode included inthe display device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a second sensing electrode includedin the display device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a first sensing electrode included inthe display device illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a second sensing electrode includedin the display device illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a first sensing electrode includedin the display device illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a second sensing electrode includedin the display device illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of a first sensing electrode includedin the display device illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of a second sensing electrode includedin the display device illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view of a first sensing electrode includedin the display device illustrated in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of a second sensing electrode includedin the display device illustrated in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments. It is apparent, however,that various exemplary embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In otherinstances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagramform in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various exemplaryembodiments.

In the accompanying figures, the size and relative sizes of layers,films, panels, regions, etc., may be exaggerated for clarity anddescriptive purposes. Also, like reference numerals denote likeelements.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,”or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on,connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer or interveningelements or layers may be present. When, however, an element or layer isreferred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or“directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no interveningelements or layers present. For the purposes of this disclosure, “atleast one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least one selected from the groupconsisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construed as X only, Y only, Z only,or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z, such as, for instance,XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describevarious elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, theseelements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should not belimited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element,component, region, layer, and/or section from another element,component, region, layer, and/or section. Thus, a first element,component, region, layer, and/or section discussed below could be termeda second element, component, region, layer, and/or section withoutdeparting from the teachings of the present disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper,” and the like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and,thereby, to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. Spatiallyrelative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of anapparatus in use, operation, and/or manufacture in addition to theorientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the apparatus inthe drawings is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath”other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the otherelements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompassboth an orientation of above and below. Furthermore, the apparatus maybe otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at otherorientations), and, as such, the spatially relative descriptors usedherein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference tosectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealizedexemplary embodiments and/or intermediate structures. As such,variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should not beconstrued as limited to the particular illustrated shapes of regions,but are to include deviations in shapes that result from, for instance,manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as arectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or agradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binarychange from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried regiondisposed by implantation may result in some implantation in the regionbetween the buried region and the surface through which the implantationtakes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the drawings are schematicin nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actualshape of a region of a device and are not intended to be limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a display device according to a firstexemplary embodiment and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view ofthe display device illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a display device 100 according to anexemplary embodiment includes a display panel 110 displaying an imageand a touch sensor 150 disposed on the display panel 110. The displaydevice 100 may further include a transparent adhesive layer 171 and acover window 172 disposed on the touch sensor 150. The cover window 172may protect the touch sensor 150 and the display panel 110 from anexternal impact, a scratch, and the like.

The display panel 110 includes a substrate 112, a display unit 120 and adriving circuit unit 130 disposed on the substrate 112, and anencapsulation 140 encapsulating the display unit 120 and the drivingcircuit unit 130. The display unit 120 includes pixels PX disposedspaced apart from each other at a distance and displays an image by acombination of light emitted from the pixels PX. A gap between thepixels PX is a non-pixel NPX. The display unit 120 includes the pixelsPX and a non-pixel NPX disposed between the pixels PX.

The driving circuit unit 130 is disposed outside the display unit 120.The driving circuit unit 130 may include a scan driving circuit and/or adata driving circuit. The driving circuit unit 130 includes thin filmtransistors and wiring, and the driving circuit unit 130 is connected tothe pixels PX of the display unit 120 to apply an electrical signal tothe pixels PX.

The display panel 110 includes a first static electricity blocking layer119 disposed overlapping the driving circuit unit 130 to suppress damageto the driving circuit unit 130 due to static electricity from theoutside. The first static electricity blocking layer 119 may be made ofthe same material and disposed on the same layer as at least one ofelectrodes of the display unit 120. The first static electricityblocking layer 119 may be applied with a common voltage or a groundvoltage.

The display panel 110 may be an organic light emitting diode display.Each pixel in the organic light emitting diode display includes anorganic light emitting diode emitting light and a pixel circuitcontrolling the organic light emitting diode. The pixel circuit includesat least two thin film transistors and at least one capacitor.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an organic light emittingdiode display. Referring to FIG. 3, a buffer layer 113 is disposed onthe substrate 112, and a semiconductor layer 121 is disposed on thebuffer layer 113. The semiconductor layer 121 includes a channel regionwhich is not doped with impurities, and a source region and a drainregion disposed at respective sides of the channel region, which aredoped with impurities. A gate insulating layer 114 is disposed on thesemiconductor layer 121, and a gate electrode 122 is disposed on thegate insulating layer 114. The gate electrode 122 overlaps the channelregion of the semiconductor layer 121.

An interlayer insulating layer 115 is disposed on the gate electrode122, and the source electrode 123 and the drain electrode 124 aredisposed on the interlayer insulating layer 115. The source electrode123 and the drain electrode 124 are respectively connected to the sourceregion and the drain region of the semiconductor layer 121 through thevia holes respectively formed in the interlayer insulating layer 115 andthe gate insulating layer 114. The thin film transistor TFT of thedisplay unit 120 illustrated in FIG. 3 is a driving thin film transistorand is covered with a planarization layer 116.

A pixel electrode 125 is disposed on the planarization layer 116. Thepixel electrode 125 is disposed in each pixel, and is connected to thedrain electrode 124 of the driving thin film transistor (TFT) throughthe via holes formed in the planarization layer 116. A pixel definedlayer 117 is disposed on the planarization layer 116 and the pixelelectrode 125. The pixel defined layer 117 includes an opening to exposea central portion of the pixel electrode 125 on which an emission layer126 is disposed.

The emission layer 126 is disposed on the pixel electrode 125 and acommon electrode 127 is disposed on the emission layer 126 and the pixeldefined layer 117. The common electrode 127 is disposed over the wholesurface of the display unit 120, for all pixels. The pixel electrode 125and the common electrode 127 respectively inject one of holes andelectrons into the emission layer 126. Electrons and holes are combinedin the emission layer 126 to generate excitons and light is emitted byenergy generated when the excitons drops from an excited state to aground state.

The pixel electrode 125 may be formed of a reflective layer and thecommon electrode 127 may be formed of a transparent layer or atransflective layer. Light emitted from the emission layer 126 isreflected at the pixel electrode 125 and transmitted through the commonelectrode 127 to the outside. In this case, when the common electrode127 is formed of the transflective layer, a portion of the lightreflected at the pixel electrode 125 is again reflected at the commonelectrode 127, and the pixel electrode 125 and the common electrode 127forms a resonance structure to increase light efficiency.

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) may be vulnerable to moisture andoxygen and therefore the encapsulation 140 encapsulates the organiclight emitting diode (OLED) to reduce or block the permeation of themoisture and the oxygen from the outside. The encapsulation 140 mayinclude a multilayer of an inorganic layer and an organic layer. Forexample, the encapsulation 140 may include a capping layer 141, a firstinorganic layer 142, an organic layer 143, and a second inorganic layer144 sequentially stacked on the common electrode 127.

The capping layer 141 may include LiF and the first inorganic layer 142and the second inorganic layer 144 may include any one of Al₂O₃,SiN_(X), and SiO₂. The organic layer 143 may include any one of epoxy,acrylate, and urethane acrylate. According to the encapsulation 140, hasa very thin thickness, and therefore, the display device 100 may be aflexible display device.

The buffer layer 113, the gate insulating layer 114, the interlayerinsulating layer 115, and the planarization layer 116 may have the samesize as the substrate 112 and the driving circuit unit 130 whichincludes the thin film transistors 131 and the wiring 132 disposedoutside the display unit 120. The driving circuit unit 130 is coveredwith the planarization layer 116 and a first static electricity blockinglayer 119 is disposed on the planarization layer 116. The first staticelectricity blocking layer 119 may be made of the same material as thepixel electrode 125 and may have a size sufficiently covering thedriving circuit unit 130.

The first static electricity blocking layer 119 contacts the commonelectrode 127 and thus, may be electrically connected to the commonelectrode 127. For example, the first static electricity blocking layer119 is not covered with the pixel defined layer 117, and exposed. Thecommon electrode 127 is widely disposed on the first static electricityblocking layer 119, and thus, the common electrode 127 may contact thefirst static electricity blocking layer 119. In this case, the firststatic electricity blocking layer 119 is applied with the common voltagelike the common electrode 127. The encapsulation 140 is disposed to bewider than the display unit 120 to cover the whole of the commonelectrode 127.

A configuration of the display unit 120, the driving circuit unit 130,and the first static electricity blocking layer 119 is not limited tothe present exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, and exemplary embodimentsmay have various configuration.

Referring back to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the touch sensor 150 includessensing electrodes 151 and 152 disposed on the display panel 110 and asecond static electricity blocking layer 160 which is disposed outsidethe sensing electrodes 151 and 152 disposed overlapping the drivingcircuit unit 130. The sensing electrodes 151 and 152 may be disposed onthe non-pixels NPX in a mesh shape. The touch sensor 150 furtherincludes passivation layers 155 and 156 covering the sensing electrodes151 and 152 and the second static electricity blocking layer 160.

The sensing electrodes 151 and 152 includes the first sensing electrode151 disposed in parallel with a first direction x and a second sensingelectrode 152 disposed in parallel with a second direction y crossingthe first direction x. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are schematic plan views of thefirst sensing electrode 151 and the second sensing electrode 152,respectively, included in the display device illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the first sensing electrode 151 mayinclude first sensing cell 151 a substantially having a rhombus shapeand first connection parts 151 b connecting the first sensing cells 151a along the first direction x. The first sensing electrode 151 may be atransmitter touch electrode (Tx touch electrode) to which a first touchsignal is transmitted to sense coordinate values in the second directiony.

The second sensing electrode 152 may include second sensing cells 152 asubstantially having a rhombus shape and second connection parts 152 bconnecting the second sensing cells 152 a along the second direction y.The second sensing electrode 152 may be a receiver touch electrode (Rxtouch electrode) to which a second touch signal is transmitted to sensecoordinate values in the first direction x.

The first sensing electrode 151 is connected to a first wiring w10 andthe second sensing electrode 152 is connected to a second wiring w20.The first and second sensing electrodes 151 and 152 are disposed in atouch area TA and the first and second wirings w10 and w20 are disposedin a peripheral area PA outside the touch area TA. The touch area TA maycorrespond to the display unit 120 of the display panel 110. The shapesof the first sensing cell 151 a and the second sensing cell 152 a arenot limited to the rhombus shape.

The first sensing electrode 151 and the second sensing electrode 152 maybe disposed on different layers. For example, the first sensingelectrode 151 may be disposed directly on the encapsulation 140 and maybe covered with a first passivation layer 155. The second sensingelectrode 152 may be disposed on the first passivation layer 155 and maybe covered with a second passivation layer 156. Referring back to FIG.1, the first sensing cell 151 a and the second sensing cell 152 a aredisposed adjacent to each other in plan view, and the first connectionpart 151 b and the second connection part 152 b overlap each otherinsulated from each other by the first passivation layer 155.

The positions of the first sensing electrode 151 and the second sensingelectrode 152 may be changed from each other. That is, the secondsensing electrode 152 may be disposed directly on the encapsulation 140and may be covered with the first passivation layer 155. The firstsensing electrode 151 may be disposed on the first passivation layer 155and may be covered with a second passivation layer 156.

The first passivation layer 155 and the second passivation layer 156 areformed to have areas larger than the touch area TA, and may be made ofinorganic materials such as silicon nitride (SiN_(X)), silicon oxide(SiO₂), etc.

An insulating layer (not illustrated) may be further disposed directlyon the encapsulation 140 and the touch sensor 150 may be disposed on theinsulating layer (not illustrated). The insulating layer (notillustrated) may reduce parasitic capacitance between the commonelectrode 127 and the touch sensor 150.

The first and second sensing electrodes 151 and 152 may include lowresistance metals such as silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu),chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni), or may include conductive nano materialssuch as silver nanowire and a carbon nanotube. The first and secondsensing electrodes 151 and 152 may have a low resistance to reduce an RCdelay and may have improved flexibility, and thus may reduce crack fromrepeated distortion such as warping.

The first and second sensing electrodes 151 and 152 may be disposed onthe non-pixels NPX in a mesh shape. Accordingly, the first and secondsensing electrodes 151 and 152 do not cover the light emitted from thepixels PX, and an area of the first and second sensing electrode 151overlapping the common electrode 127 may be reduced so the parasiticcapacitance may be reduced. Further, the touch sensor 150 uses thedisplay panel 110 as the substrate. Accordingly, the touch sensor 150may be formed thin, and the display device 100 may have reducedthickness and may be flexible.

The second static electricity blocking layer 160 is disposed in theperipheral area PA disposed outside the touch area TA and overlappingthe driving circuit unit 130 to reduce or suppress the damage to thedriving circuit unit 130 due to static electricity from the outside. Thesecond static electricity blocking layer 160 is connected to a thirdwiring w30 and may be made of the same materials and disposed on thesame layer as at least one of the sensing electrodes 151 and 152.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the display device 100 according to the firstexemplary embodiment, the second static electricity blocking layer 160is made of the same material and disposed on the same layer as thesecond sensing electrode 152. That is, the second static electricityblocking layer 160 is disposed in the peripheral area PA on the firstpassivation layer 155 and may be disposed surrounding three sides offour sides of the touch area TA except for one side on where a pad areaPA is disposed.

The pad area PA refers to an area in which an end of the first wiringw10, the second wiring w20, and the third wiring w30 are positioneddisposed. The first and second passivation layers 155 and 156 may bedisposed over the whole surface of the substrate 112 other than the padarea PA to expose the pad area PA.

The second static electricity blocking layer 160 may be disposedoverlapping the first wiring w10 and may be formed to have the samewidth as that of the first static electricity blocking layer 119. Thesecond static electricity blocking layer 160 is connected to externaldevices (not illustrated) such as a chip on film (COF), a flexibleprinted circuit (FPC), etc., through the third wiring w30, and may beapplied with a ground voltage or common voltage from the externaldevices.

The second static electricity blocking layer 160 may be patternedsimultaneously with the second sensing electrode 152. Therefore, anadditional process for forming the second static electricity blockinglayer 160 is not required, and therefore, manufacturing of the touchsensor 150 may be simplified.

The second static electricity blocking layer 160 is disposed overlappingthe driving circuit unit 130 and the first static electricity blockinglayer 119. That is, the first static electricity blocking layer 119 andthe second static electricity blocking layer 160 are disposed over thedriving circuit unit 130. It is possible to reduce or suppress thedamage to the driving circuit unit 130 due to static electricity fromthe outside and improve durability of the display device 100 even whenthe display device 100 is applied with strong static electricity fromthe outside, by disposing the two static electricity blocking layers 119and 160 overlapping the driving circuit unit 130.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 200according to an exemplary embodiment and FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are schematicplan views of the first sensing electrode 151 and the second sensingelectrode 152, respectively, included in the display device illustratedin FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, in a display device 200 according to anexemplary embodiment, a second static electricity blocking layer 161 ofa touch sensor 150 a is made of the same material and disposed on thesame layer as the first sensing electrode 151. That is, the secondstatic electricity blocking layer 161 may be disposed directly on theencapsulation 140 in the peripheral area PA outside the touch area TA.

The second static electricity blocking layer 161 may be disposed outsidethe first wiring w10 and may be disposed surrounding three sides of foursides of the touch area TA except for one side on where the pad area PAis disposed. The second static electricity blocking layer 161 may beformed to have a width smaller than that of the first static electricityblocking layer 119, at the left side and the right side of the toucharea TA on which the first wiring w10 is disposed. The first wiring w10and the second static electricity blocking layer 161 overlap the firststatic electricity blocking layer 119.

The second static electricity blocking layer 161 illustrated in FIGS. 7and 8 may have a width smaller than that of the first static electricityblocking layer 119, but may have substantially similar effect ofreducing or blocking the static electricity applied from the outsidecompared to the second static electricity blocking layer 160 illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2. The display device 200 according to an exemplaryembodiment may have reduced or suppressed damage to the driving circuitunit 130 from static electricity, and therefore, have improvedurability.

In the display device 200 according to the exemplary embodiment, thecomponents other than the second static electricity blocking layer 161are substantially the same as those of the display device 100 accordingto the exemplary embodiment.

According to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, and 8 describe that the first sensing electrode and the secondsensing electrode are disposed on different layers, but exemplaryembodiments are not limited thereto, and the first and second sensingelectrodes may be disposed on the same layer. In this case, theinsulating layer may be selectively disposed where the first sensingelectrode and the second sensing electrode cross each other, and thesecond static electricity blocking layer may be disposed to overlap thefirst static electricity blocking layer disposed outside of the firstand second sensing electrodes.

Further, the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, and 8 describe that, for example, the touch sensor is amutual-capacitive type, in which the touch sensor includes the Tx touchelectrode and the Rx touch electrode, but exemplary embodiments are notlimited thereto, and therefore, the touch sensor may be aself-capacitive type.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 300according to an exemplary embodiment and FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 areschematic plan views of the first sensing electrode 151 and the secondsensing electrode 152, respectively, included in the display deviceillustrated in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, in a display device 300 according tothe exemplary embodiment, a second static electricity blocking layer 162of a touch sensor 150 b is includes a first layer 162 a and a secondlayer 162 b disposed overlapping each other. For example, the secondstatic electricity blocking layer 162 may include a first layer 162 adisposed on the same layer as the first sensing electrode 151 and asecond layer 162 b disposed on the same layer as the second sensingelectrode 152. A first passivation layer 155 is disposed between thefirst layer 162 a and the second layer 162 b.

The first layer 162 a is disposed outside the first wiring w10, directlyon the encapsulation 140, and is made of the same material as the firstsensing electrode 151. The second layer 162 b is made of the samematerial as the second sensing electrode 152 on the first passivationlayer 155. The first layer 162 a and the second layer 162 b may bedisposed surrounding three sides of four sides of the touch area TAexcept for one side on where the pad area PA is disposed.

The first layer 162 a and the first wiring w10 overlap the second layer162 b and the first layer 162 a may have a width smaller than that ofthe second layer 162 b at the left side and the right side of the toucharea TA on which the first wiring w10 is disposed. The second layer 162b may be disposed to have the same width as that of the first staticelectricity blocking layer 119.

The first layer 162 a is connected to a fourth wiring w40 and the secondlayer 162 b is connected to a fifth wiring w50. The first layer 162 aand the second layer 162 b are each connected to external devices (notillustrated) through the fourth wiring w40 and the fifth wiring w50 andmay thus be applied with a ground voltage or a common voltage therefrom.In the pad region PA, the fourth wiring w40 and the fifth wiring w50 maybe disposed in parallel, or the fifth wiring w50 may be disposed on thefourth wiring w40 contacting the fourth wiring w40.

In the display device 300 according to the exemplary embodiment, threestatic electricity blocking layers 119, 162 a, and 162 b are disposedover the driving circuit unit 130 and therefore, the display device 300may provide further protection against the static electricity appliedfrom the outside to reduce or suppress damage to the driving circuitunit 130 due to the static electricity. In the display device 300according to the exemplary embodiment, the components other than thefirst layer 162 a, the second layer 162 b, the fourth wiring w40, andthe fifth wiring 50 are substantially the same as those of the displaydevice 100 according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 40according to an exemplary embodiment and FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 areschematic plan views of a first sensing electrode 151 and a secondsensing electrode 152, respectively, included in the display deviceillustrated in FIG. 12.

Referring to FIGS. 12, 13, and 14, in a display device 400 according tothe exemplary embodiment, a second layer 162 b of a touch sensor 150 cis connected to the first layer 162 a of the touch sensor 150 c throughan opening OP formed in the first passivation layer 155. The firstpassivation layer 155 includes the openings OPs in the peripheral areaPA to expose a portion of the first layer 162 a. The second layer 162 bis disposed over the first layer 162 a and the first passivation layer155 to connect the first layer 162 a with the second layer 162 b.

As the first layer 162 a is connected with the second layer 162 b,wiring for applying a ground voltage or a common voltage to the secondstatic electricity blocking layer 162 may be connected to any one of thefirst layer 162 a and the second layer 162 b. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14illustrate, for example, that a third wiring w30 is connected to thefirst layer 162 a, but exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto,and the third wiring w30 may be connected to the second layer 162 b andboth of the first layer 162 a and the second layer 162 b may also beconnected to each wiring.

In the display device 400 according to the exemplary embodiment, thecomponents other than the structure of the first layer 162 a and thesecond layer 162 b including the opening OP in the first passivationlayer 155 and the third wiring w30 are substantially the same as thoseof the display device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 500according to an exemplary embodiment and FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 areschematic plan views of a first sensing electrode 151 and a secondsensing electrode 152, respectively, included in the display deviceillustrated in FIG. 15.

Referring to FIGS. 15, 16, and 17, in a display device 500 according tothe exemplary embodiment, a touch sensor 150 d includes a firstauxiliary electrode 153 which is disposed overlapping the first sensingcell 151 a and connected to the first sensing cell 151 a, and a secondauxiliary electrode 154 which is disposed overlapping the second sensingcell 152 a and connected to the second sensing cell 152 a. The firstauxiliary electrode 153 and the second auxiliary electrode 154 aredisposed in the touch area TA and may be disposed on the non-pixels NPXin a mesh shape.

The first sensing electrode 151 and the second auxiliary electrode 154may be made of the same material on the same layer and the secondsensing electrode 152 and the first auxiliary electrode 153 may be madeof the same material on the same layer.

In detail, the first sensing electrode 151 and the second auxiliaryelectrode 154 are disposed over the encapsulation 140, and the firstpassivation layer 155 covers the first sensing electrode 151 and thesecond auxiliary electrode 154. The second auxiliary electrode 154 isindependently disposed between the first sensing cells 151 a and maysubstantially have a rhombus shape.

The second sensing electrode 152 and the first auxiliary electrode 153are disposed over the first passivation layer 155 and the secondpassivation layer 156 covers the second sensing electrode 152 and thefirst auxiliary electrode 153. The first auxiliary electrode 153 isindependently disposed between the second sensing cells 152 a and maysubstantially have a rhombus shape. However, exemplary embodiments arenot limited thereto, and the shapes of the first and second sensingcells 151 a and 152 a and the first and second auxiliary electrodes 153and 154 are not limited to the rhombus shape.

The first passivation layer 155 is provided with a first contact holeCH1 through which the first sensing cell 151 a is connected to the firstauxiliary electrode 153. Further, the first passivation layer 155 isprovided with a second contact hole CH2 through which the secondauxiliary electrode 154 contacts the second sensing cell 152 a.

Each of the first and second sensing electrodes 151 and 152 has reducedlinear resistance due to the first and second auxiliary electrodes 153and 154, and thus the RC delay may be reduced or minimized. Further, asecond touch signal flows in the second auxiliary electrode 154 adjacentto the first sensing cell 151 a and a first touch signal flows in thefirst auxiliary electrode 153 adjacent to the second sensing cell 152 ato increase or maximize the intensity of the electric field between thefirst sensing cell 151 a and the second sensing cell 152 a, therebyincreasing the sensing sensitivity of the touch sensor 150 d.

In the display device 500 according to the exemplary embodiment, thecomponents other than the first and second auxiliary electrodes 153 and154 and the first and second contact holes CH1 and CH2 are substantiallythe same as those of the display devices 100, 200, and 300 according tothe exemplary embodiments.

According to exemplary embodiments, the display panel may include thefirst static electricity blocking layer disposed on the driving circuitunit, and the touch sensor may include the second static electricityblocking layer disposed on the first static electricity blocking layer.Accordingly, the display panel may reduce or suppress the damage to thedriving circuit unit due to the static electricity and improve thedurability of the display device when the display device is applied withthe strong static electricity from the outside, by disposing the firstand second static electricity blocking layers on the driving circuitunit.

Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have beendescribed herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparentfrom this description. Accordingly, the inventive concept is not limitedto such embodiments, but rather to the broader scope of the presentedclaims and various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising: a display panelcomprising: a display unit comprising a pixel; a driving circuit unitdisposed outside the display unit; a first static electricity blockinglayer disposed on the driving circuit unit; and an encapsulationconfigured to encapsulate the display unit and the first staticelectricity blocking layer; and a touch sensor disposed on the displaypanel, comprising: sensing electrodes disposed on the display unit; anda second static electricity blocking layer disposed overlapping thefirst static electricity blocking layer outside of the sensingelectrodes, wherein the pixel comprises a pixel electrode, an emissionlayer, and a common electrode, wherein the first static electricityblocking layer is disposed on the same layer with the pixel electrode,wherein the common electrode is formed from the display unit to thedriving circuit unit, the common electrode overlapping and contactingthe first static electricity blocking layer, wherein the second staticelectricity blocking layer is disposed on the same layer with thesensing electrodes, and wherein the encapsulation is positioned betweenthe first static electricity blocking layer and the second staticelectricity blocking layer.
 2. The display device of claim 1, whereinthe first static electricity blocking layer is made of the same materialas the pixel electrode.
 3. The display device of claim 1, wherein: thedisplay unit comprises a non-pixel disposed adjacent to the pixel, andthe sensing electrodes are disposed in a mesh shape on the non-pixel. 4.The display device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor comprises: atouch area configured to recognize a touch; and a pad area which isdisposed at one side of the touch area, and the second staticelectricity blocking layer is disposed surrounding three sides of foursides of the touch area except for the one side on where the pad area isdisposed.
 5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the sensingelectrodes comprises: a first sensing electrode comprising first sensingcells disposed in parallel with a first direction, the first sensingcells connected to a first wiring, a second sensing electrode comprisingsecond sensing cells disposed in parallel with a second direction, thesecond sensing cells connected to a second wiring, and wherein the firstdirection crosses the second direction.
 6. The display device of claim5, wherein: the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrodeare disposed on different layers, and the second static electricityblocking layer is disposed on the same layer as the first sensingelectrode or the second sensing electrode, the second static electricityblocking layer is connected to a third wiring.
 7. The display device ofclaim 5, wherein: the touch sensor further comprises a first passivationlayer covering the first sensing electrode and a second passivationlayer covering the second sensing electrode, and the second sensingelectrode is disposed on the first passivation layer.
 8. The displaydevice of claim 7, wherein: the second static electricity blocking layeris made of the same material as the first sensing electrode and isconnected to a third wiring.
 9. The display device of claim 7, wherein:the second static electricity blocking layer is made of the samematerial as the second sensing electrode and is connected to a thirdwiring.
 10. The display device of claim 7, wherein the second staticelectricity blocking layer comprises: a first layer made of the samematerial as the first sensing electrode; and a second layer made of thesame material as the second sensing electrode, configured to overlap thefirst layer.
 11. The display device of claim 10, wherein: the firstlayer is connected to a fourth wiring, the second layer is connected toa fifth wiring, and the fourth wiring and the fifth wiring are disposedin parallel with each other or overlapping each other.
 12. The displaydevice of claim 10, wherein: the first passivation layer is disposedcovering the first layer, an opening, the first passivation layercomprising the opening, and wherein the first layer is conducted to thesecond layer through the opening.
 13. The display device of claim 12,wherein: the first layer is directly connected to a third wiring, andthe second layer is connected to the third wiring through the firstlayer.
 14. The display device of claim 7, wherein the touch sensorfurther comprises: a first auxiliary electrode disposed on the firstpassivation layer overlapping the first sensing cell, and the firstpassivation layer comprises a first contact hole through which the firstsensing cell is connected to the first auxiliary electrode.
 15. Thedisplay device of claim 14, wherein: the first auxiliary electrode hasan independent cell shape, and is disposed spaced apart from the secondsensing electrode.
 16. The display device of claim 7, wherein the touchsensor further comprises: a second auxiliary electrode disposed underthe first passivation layer overlapping the second sensing cell, and thefirst passivation layer comprises a second contact hole through whichthe second sensing cell is connected to the second auxiliary electrode.17. The display device of claim 16, wherein: the second auxiliaryelectrode has an independent cell shape, and is disposed spaced apartfrom the first sensing electrode.